An unconvinced public refused to play tonto this time

IF this were a sport, say, soccer, I bet we would have heard ecstatic fans chanting his name. Well, it wasn’t a game but it had all the hallmarks of an enchantment show where they pull rabbits out of a hat and make them disappear again. 

It all started in the third week of July when Kilindi Member of Parliament, Beatrice Shelukindo, alleged in parliament that the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals had asked 20 institutions under the ministry to contribute 50m/- each, which was to be used to facilitate the passing of the ministry’s budget.

Following the allegations, the PS was asked to go and wait for his pay cheque in the comfort of his home as an audit was launched. Not much for a punishment but that’s what happened. 

On the fateful day the allegations were made in Parliament, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda went on record to state that had it been his wish, he would have summarily sacked the PS. It only served to show how serious the allegations were being taken by the government.

An inquiry was ordered and those who were anticipating a bombshell were in for a shock when the verdict returned. Not guilty, case closed! They were cut down to size.

A special audit by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) dismissed claims that David Jairo raised 1bn/- to induce MPs to pass the ministry’s budget, but “only four institutions were asked for contributions” instead of the alleged 20.

The total amount contributed by those institutions was almost 150m/-, not 1bn/-, money which was paid out as subsistence, entertainment and sitting allowances to ministry officials instead of MPs. Another 400 plus million shillings were collected from other ministry departments for that purpose.

Yet something felt amiss in the special audit. Personally I felt lost in the semantics at play in the report. In fact, in its own dysfunctional way the report might have done more damage than good to Mr David Jairo’s person.

We are told that something happened but not to the extent alleged by the MP. We may never know for sure if that in itself solves the equation, because the report still leaves us in the dark as to whether or not whatever it is that happened amounts to malpractice.

We are also not enlightened if asking for contributions from troubled and cash strapped institutions like Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco), which coughed out 40m/- to that effect, is appropriate or not. 

And then there are some innocent questions that are very troubling. If asking for contributions from institutions to ‘facilitate passing of a budget’ is standard procedure, wouldn’t the premier be aware of that?

If, again, it is standard procedure, why should it be shrouded in so much secrecy that the person who is alleged to have leaked out the information is now literally wanted? Nay, more, who got how much and why? At these times of dire and pressing needs, it upsets the stomach to learn that public funds are being used in such an ill-advised fashion.

Jairo was cleared of any wrongdoing but the investigation left so much uncovered ground even the myopic have no difficulty seeing that. So many questions were left unanswered leading to an unconvinced Parliament to quickly decide to form its own committee to look into the matter.

MPs were of the opinion that Tanzanians have once again been taken for a ride. But taking people for a ride is one thing. Gloating over their predicament and mocking them while at it is insulting to the intelligence.  

But it all ends when and where the purported fool refuses to play the part any more. When MPs took offense, they chose not to play along and took matters in their hands because the issue was first brought to light in Parliament. And what do you know? A little innocuous tale has outgrown to a drama of Kafkaesque proportions. 

Just as he was hastily reinstated, President Jakaya Kikwete swiftly directed the PS to remain on leave pending an investigation by MPs; a sign of good things to come.

We are all now left embarrassed on behalf of the overjoyed employees who found the time, in between their busy schedules, to welcome back the PS with so much pomp.

In argumentation, they say, humans reach conclusions through logical reasoning with claims based, soundly or not, on premises.  One can argue all he/she wants but a wrong turn is just a wrong turn, even if it gets you where you are going.

An unhappy public sensed something was not right with whatever that transpired in the ministry, trying to convince them otherwise on premises not so persuasive was like asking them to play the fool. They said no, the buck stops here.